Ophthalmic Innovation: UNITHER Invests in Bordeaux
- BORDEAUX, France (April 28, 2025) – Unither Développement Bordeaux (UDB), the research and growth hub of Unither Pharmaceuticals, has invested in a sterile isolator to bolster its support...
- The new isolator provides an habitat compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, suitable for both preserved and preservative-free multidose ophthalmic products.
- The site qualifies for the research tax credit (CIR), enabling French companies to finance up to 30% of their research and development expenses.
Unither Pharmaceuticals Enhances Bordeaux Site to Boost Ophthalmology Innovation
Table of Contents
- Unither Pharmaceuticals Enhances Bordeaux Site to Boost Ophthalmology Innovation
- Sterile Isolator to Secure Ophthalmic Projects
- Bordeaux Site Strengthened to Support Innovation
- Strategic Focus Reinforced at Group Level
- Experienced Leadership Drives Ambition
- About Unither Développement Bordeaux
- About Unither Pharmaceuticals
- Q&A: unither pharmaceuticals’ Expansion in Ophthalmology
- What is Unither Pharmaceuticals Doing to Enhance its Ophthalmology Capabilities?
- What Specific Investments are Being Made at the Bordeaux Site?
- What are the Benefits of the New Sterile Isolator?
- How is the Bordeaux Site Being Further Strengthened?
- What is the Research Tax Credit (CIR)?
- How Does this Investment relate to Unither’s Overall Strategy?
- Where Can Ophthalmic Projects Commence for Unither?
- what Role Does UDB Play in Unither’s Strategic Vision?
- Who is Nathalie Masson and What is Her Role?
- What is Unither Pharma?
- Where are Unither pharmaceuticals’ Production Sites located?
- Key Figures and Data (Based on provided content):
BORDEAUX, France (April 28, 2025) – Unither Développement Bordeaux (UDB), the research and growth hub of Unither Pharmaceuticals, has invested in a sterile isolator to bolster its support for clients’ ophthalmic projects. The investment aligns with the company’s strategy to solidify its position as a global leader in sterile ophthalmic solutions.
Sterile Isolator to Secure Ophthalmic Projects
The new isolator provides an habitat compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, suitable for both preserved and preservative-free multidose ophthalmic products. It will facilitate the production of pre-clinical, clinical, and small-scale commercial batches under optimal sterility conditions.
Bordeaux Site Strengthened to Support Innovation
Recent improvements to the Bordeaux site include:
- Expansion of facilities with an additional 200 square meters dedicated to formulation.
- Creation of a 50-square-meter sterile GMP pilot area.
- Reinforcement of regulatory and analytical expertise.
The site qualifies for the research tax credit (CIR), enabling French companies to finance up to 30% of their research and development expenses.
Strategic Focus Reinforced at Group Level
The investment strengthens Unither’s research and development capabilities in ophthalmology. Projects at the Bordeaux site can commence in Preservative-Free Multi-Dose (PFMD) formats, with batch sizes up to 10 liters for early pre-clinical and clinical phases. the Coutances site, equipped with a PFMD line under island containment for batches up to 80 liters (phases I to III), provides industrial relay. This structure ensures smooth production development with cost control. Synergies also exist with the Rochester site (ROC, USA), dedicated to Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) technology, to support projects targeting the North American market.
Experienced Leadership Drives Ambition
Unither is prioritizing ophthalmology as a central element of its growth, pursuing a strategy built on close collaborations with universities, research centers, and biotechnology companies.
“This investment is fully aligned with our ambition to establish Unither as a key partner in ophthalmology,” said Nathalie masson, Innovation & Development Director, Unither Pharmaceuticals. “By combining the expertise of our research and development and production sites, we are building an integrated value chain capable of supporting our customers from innovation to market. UDB plays a crucial role in this dynamic, upstream of industrial operations.”
About Unither Développement Bordeaux
Unither Développement Bordeaux (UDB) is the research and development center of Unither Pharmaceuticals, specializing in the development of sterile ophthalmic products and conventional galenic forms. The site supports clients from formulation to the manufacture of clinical and small-scale commercial batches, with expertise in analytical development, regulatory strategy, and industrial transfers. UDB employs more than 50 people and operates in accordance with GMP standards.It is eligible for the research tax credit (CIR).
About Unither Pharmaceuticals
Unither Pharmaceuticals is a contract development and manufacturing institution (CDMO) specializing in liquid formulations in unit-dose and multi-dose formats, including eye drops, saline solutions, BFS unit-dose asthma medications, and oral sticks. With 2,300 employees and eight production sites in France, the United States, Brazil, and china, and also a research and development center in France, Unither Pharmaceuticals reported a turnover of 522 million euros in 2024.
Contact: press@unither-pharma.com
Q&A: unither pharmaceuticals’ Expansion in Ophthalmology
Here’s a breakdown of Unither Pharmaceuticals’ recent investment and its implications,designed for clarity and SEO optimization.
What is Unither Pharmaceuticals Doing to Enhance its Ophthalmology Capabilities?
Unither Pharmaceuticals is strengthening its focus on ophthalmology through strategic investments in research and development, specifically at its Unither Développement Bordeaux (UDB) site. This aligns with the company’s broader strategy to become a global leader in sterile ophthalmic solutions.
What Specific Investments are Being Made at the Bordeaux Site?
The primary investment at the Bordeaux site includes a new sterile isolator. This equipment is designed to support the development of ophthalmic projects for clients.
What are the Benefits of the New Sterile Isolator?
The new sterile isolator offers several key benefits:
GMP Compliance: The isolator adheres to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, ensuring high quality and safety.
Product Versatility: It supports both preserved and preservative-free multidose ophthalmic products.
Production Stages: It facilitates the production of pre-clinical,clinical,and small-scale commercial batches.
Sterility: It maintains optimal sterility conditions,critical for ophthalmic products.
How is the Bordeaux Site Being Further Strengthened?
Besides the sterile isolator, the Bordeaux site is undergoing further improvements:
Facility Expansion: An additional 200 square meters dedicated to formulation.
Sterile Pilot area: Creation of a 50-square-meter sterile GMP pilot area.
Expertise Reinforcement: Strengthening of regulatory and analytical expertise.
What is the Research Tax Credit (CIR)?
The Bordeaux site is eligible for the French research tax credit (CIR). This enables French companies to finance up to 30% of their research and development expenses.
How Does this Investment relate to Unither’s Overall Strategy?
The investment reinforces Unither’s position in ophthalmology.It allows the company to support projects in preservative-Free multi-Dose (PFMD) formats at the Bordeaux site with batch sizes up to 10 liters for early phases.They have a solid operational structure with the Coutances site that supports batches up to 80 liters. Collaboration and synergy exist with their site in Rochester, USA (ROC), which focuses on Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) technology, for North American market projects.
Where Can Ophthalmic Projects Commence for Unither?
Projects can commence at the Bordeaux site with Preservative-Free Multi-dose (PFMD) batches of up to 10 liters for early phases.
what Role Does UDB Play in Unither’s Strategic Vision?
UDB, the research and development center, is crucial in Unither’s growth by supporting clients from formulation to manufacture.
Who is Nathalie Masson and What is Her Role?
Nathalie Masson is the Innovation & Development director at Unither Pharmaceuticals. She views the investment as a key step towards them establishing Unither as a key partner in ophthalmology.
What is Unither Pharma?
Unither Pharmaceuticals is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in liquid formulations, including:
Eye drops
Saline solutions
BFS unit-dose asthma medications
Oral sticks
Where are Unither pharmaceuticals’ Production Sites located?
Unither Pharmaceuticals has production sites in:
France
United States
Brazil
* China
Along with these production sites, they have a research and development center in France.
Key Figures and Data (Based on provided content):
| aspect | Details |
| ————————– | —————————————— |
| Employees (Unither) | 2,300 |
| Production Sites | 8 |
| R&D Center | 1 (France) |
| turnover (2024) | 522 million euros |
| Bordeaux Site Employees | More than 50 |